Louisville Football Position Previews: Safeties

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Louisville has a lot of talent returning on the defense this year, but safety is the one spot where they had to completely overhaul the group. D’Angelo Hutchinson and JoJo Evans have departed, leaving a pretty sizeable void to be filled. The staff did a great job of mining the portal and bringing in players with P4 experience.

Koen Entringer was an all-conference performer at Iowa last year as well as being a permanent captain for one of the best defenses in the country. Entringer was an immediate leader in spring practice this year, calling out coverages, directing drills, and taking younger players under his wing. He was also much more mobile and athletic than I expected. A guy his size, as well as being an Iowa dude, led me to expect a plodding and rigid player, but he surprised me with how well he moved. Look for him to be a guy who could be an all-conference player for the Cards.

The Cards will rely on two former SEC players to take over the other safety spot in T.J. Banks and Kaleb Beasley. In the spring, we saw Beasley as the first man up, but I expect this battle to last through fall camp. Both players have logged over 300 snaps against strong competition, so I think either would be a solid option as the starter.

I am a big fan of the depth that the Cards will be able to work with this year. Blake Ruffin is a big safety who has spent a lot of time learning the outside linebacker spot behind Antonio Watts. However, Ruffin is a good option behind Entringer at safety as well.

Micah Rice and Jordan Vann are the two young guys on the team who stand out the most to me. Rice is a heat-seeking missile as a tackler, while Vann picked off pass after pass in the spring as a guy who should have been getting ready for prom. Vann is an underrated athlete who returned kicks in high school, while Rice is a guy who seems to be at his best when he can get downhill and stick his hat into the mix. I’m hopeful that we see these two on the field this season.

BREAKOUT CANDIDATE

The player that jumped out to me in the spring was Micah Rice, and I think his play could translate to the field this year. Rice may not have a big season comparatively to some others, but I think he could be a big player in the context of a young player waiting his turn. Rice will likely be a special teams guy who can make plays, but I truly do expect him to see the field on defense and make a play or two that will elicit a reaction from fans.

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